System and method for the distribution of software products

ABSTRACT

A system and method for selling software products over a network. The system includes a server computer with access to software products. The system is configured to allow a user to purchase a subscription for the periodic acquisition of selected software products. In one embodiment, as part of the subscription, the user pays an amount during selected billing intervals. In return, the system issues to the user a number of credits for downloading at no additional charge at least one of the software products during a credit interval, which may be equal in length to the billing interval. In one embodiment, the system debits a number of credits in response to fulfilling a user&#39;s purchase request. The system may be also configured to deduct credits that are not used within selected credit intervals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The field of the invention relates to the sale and distributionof software products. More particularly, the field of the inventionrelates to a system and method for selling software products via anetwork.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Technology

[0004] The process of manufacturing and distributing software productscan be expensive. Manufacturing costs include the cost of purchasingmedia such as the floppy disks or CD-ROMs, equipment to write thesoftware onto the media, labels to mark the media, and the packaging andshipping costs associated with sending the media to users and purchasersof the product. The manufacturing process includes the preparation ofphysical media for distribution, and may be very time-consumingdepending on the availability of manufacturing resources. Furthermore,labor costs include the cost of coordinating the manufacturing process,the testing process, and the physical distribution process.

[0005] In view of these problems, certain distributors have recentlyturned to selling and transmitting the software products to users viathe Internet. As non-limiting examples, software products include:games, business software, databases, audio files, music, audio books,and video files. When selling software products, it is possible tocomplete the entire transaction, i.e., accept payment from a customer,and deliver the digital content to the customer, within the confines ofthe Internet. Electronic distribution carries fewer of the costsassociated with manufacturing and distributing tangible products.

[0006] When selling software products over the Internet, the usertypically provides billing information and in return, is then grantedaccess to download the purchased software product. This can be viewed asa one time transaction. The user may or may not at later point in timepurchase other software products from the vendor. Disadvantageously,known software distribution systems do not provide vendors with aconsistent recurring revenue stream for the sale of multiple differentproducts.

[0007] Other distributors have turned to selling subscriptions(“leases”) that allow the user to download selected software productsand use the products for the term of the subscription. Disadvantageouslyfor the users, at the end of the subscription, the user does not havethe right to retain the software. At the end of the subscription, thedownloaded software product is typically inoperative. This is lesssatisfactory to many users than being able to retain ownership ofpurchased products.

[0008] Consequently, vendors have a need for an improved system andmethod that increases recurring revenue for the sale of softwareproducts. Furthermore, the system and method should allow a user to haveunrestricted access to the software products that are acquired, and thesystem and method should provide economic, or otherwise valuable,incentives to the user to place recurrent purchases with a vendor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system forselling and purchasing software products over a network.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating, in one embodiment of theinvention, a process for a non-subscriber for purchasing products fromthe system of FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating, in one embodiment of theinvention, a process for a subscriber for purchasing software productsfrom the system of FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 4 is an exemplary user interface that may be used inconjunction with the systems and methods for selling and purchasingsoftware products over a network.

[0013]FIG. 5 is an exemplary user interface that may be used inconjunction with the process of FIG. 3.

[0014]FIG. 6 is yet another exemplary user interface that may be used inconjunction with the process of FIG. 3.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process for managing asoftware purchasing subscription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The following detailed description is directed to certainspecific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can beembodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and covered by theclaims. In this description, reference is made to the drawings whereinlike parts are designated with like numerals throughout.

[0017] In some embodiments, the invention concerns systems and methodsfor evaluating, selling, purchasing, and/or distributing softwareproducts over a computer network. In one embodiment, the inventionprovides a method whereby a consumer benefits by purchasing multiplesoftware products at discounted prices. In another embodiment, theinvention provides a subscription plan whereby a consumer convenientlyand periodically may purchase software products at prices that arereduced compared to individual, one-time or serial purchases of softwareproducts. Moreover, these and other embodiments of the invention benefitthe software product manufacturer, marketer, or distributor by, forexample, creating a customer subscription base that encourages repeatsells and customer loyalty. These and other advantages of the inventivesystems and methods are evident from the detailed description of theinvention that follows.

[0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system forselling and purchasing software products. FIG. 1 shows a server computer100 that is connected to a plurality of client computers 104A-104N via anetwork 108. The server 100 maintains a plurality of software products112A-112L that are purchasable by users of the client computers104A-104N. As non-limiting examples, the software products 112A-112L caninclude executable code, games, business software, medical software,video files, music, audio files, music programs, movies, and audiobooks. Software products can also include any digital content that canbe transmitted over a communications network, e.g., the Internet. Thedigital content can be downloaded from the server computer 100 to aclient computer 104A.

[0019] The server computer 100 provides an interface (see FIGS. 4-5) toallow a user of the client computers 104A-104N to purchase a softwaresubscription. As part of the subscription, the user is required to pay aselected amount during selected intervals, i.e., credit periods, in thesubscription period. For example, in one embodiment the user pays $6.95for a monthly subscription to a computer games distribution program. Ofcourse, the actual amount and length of the credit period may varywidely. That is, the charged amounts may be from nominal ($0.50, forexample) to as much as $1,000 or more depending on the software productsinvolved. In return, the user is authorized to download for noadditional charge one of the software products 112A-112L during each ofthe credit periods. The subscription period may be for a predeterminedduration, e.g., 3 years, or alternatively, of indefinite duration untilcancelled by the provider of the server 100 or one of the users of theclient computers 104A-104N. It should be noted that the credit periodsmay be hours, days, weeks, months, or years, for example.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, duration of the credit periodis the same as each of the billing periods in the subscription. Inanother embodiment of the invention, there is no relation between thecredit period and the billing period. In some embodiments, the methodsmay include a requirement that the user commit to a predetermined numberof multiple subscription periods. For example, the user may be requiredto pay an up-front amount equal to the periodic payments for thespecified number subscription periods. By way of example, the user maybe asked to make a one time payment of $20.85 for three subscriptionperiods (3×$6.95) as a condition of gaining membership into thesubscription plan. In other embodiments, the user may have the option tobuy a lifetime subscription with an up-front payment, or make anup-front payment for a predetermined number of subscription periods.

[0021] The server computer 100 maintains a subscription database 116that stores all subscription information, such as which users have asubscription, payment and billing information, the billing period, thecredit period, the subscription period, and which software products112A-112L have been transmitted to the respective users. It is to beappreciated that the subscription database 116 need not be stored on theserver computer 100 as long it is accessible by the server computer viathe network 100.

[0022] The server computer 100 and the client computers 104A-104N mayinclude any conventional general purpose single- or multi-chipmicroprocessor such as a Pentium® processor, Pentium II® processor,Pentium III® processor, Pentium IV® processor, a Pentium® Pro processor,a 8051 processor, a MPS® processor, a Power PC® processor, or anALPHA®processor. In addition, the microprocessor may be any conventionalspecial purpose microprocessor such as a digital signal processor.

[0023] The network 108 may include any type of electronically connectedgroup of computers including, for instance, the following networks:Internet, Intranet, Local Area Networks (LAN) or Wide Area Networks(WAN). In addition, the connectivity to the network may be, for example,modem, Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), Token Ring (IEEE 802.5), Fiber DistributedDatalink Interface (FDDI) or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). Note thatcomputing devices in the network 108, the server computer 100, and theclient computers 108A-108N may be desktop, server, portable, hand-held,set-top, or any other desired type of configuration. As used herein, thenetwork includes network variations such as the public Internet, aprivate network within the Internet, a secure network within theInternet, a private network, a public network, a value-added network, anintranet, and the like.

[0024] The server computer 100 and the client computers 104A-104N mayhave one or more input devices. For example, the input device may be akeyboard, rollerball, pen and stylus, mouse, or voice recognitionsystem. The input device may also be a touch screen associated with anoutput device. The user may respond to prompts on the display bytouching the screen. The user may enter textual or graphic informationthrough the input device.

[0025] The server computer 100 and the client computers 104A-104N may beused in connection with various operating systems such as: UNIX, LINUX,Disk Operating System (DOS), OS/2, PalmOS, VxWorks, Windows 3.X, Windows-95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows CE, and Windows XP.

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, the client computers104A-104N each includes service software 120. The service software 120downloads software products 112A-112L from the server computer 100. Inone embodiment of the invention, the service software 120 is an Internetbrowser such as Internet Explorer published by Microsoft, Inc. ofRedmond, Wash., or alternatively, Netscape® by Netscape CommunicationsCorp. of Mountain View, Calif. In another embodiment of the invention,the service software 120 is a digital rights management applicationprogram for testing, evaluating, using, and purchasing software products112A-112L. FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary user interface 404 that may beused in conjunction with the service software 120. The software products112A-112L need not be manufactured or produced by the administrator ofthe server 100, but instead, may be resale products.

[0027]FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for a non-subscribeduser for purchasing products from the system of FIG. 1. For convenienceof description, FIG. 2 is described with respect to a user of clientcomputer 104A. However, it is to be appreciated that the same processesoccur on client computer 104B-104N. Depending on the embodiment,additional steps may be added, others removed, selected steps may bemerged together, and the ordering of the steps rearranged.

[0028] Starting at a step 200, a user accesses the service software 120.The service software 120 (FIG. 1) allows a user to evaluate and purchasesoftware products 104A-104N and/or software subscriptions for thepurchase of the software products 112A-112L. (FIG. 4 shows an exemplaryuser interface that may be employed to provide access to thefunctionality of the service software 120). In one embodiment, theservice software 120 has access to a searchable database (not shown) toallow the user search for particular products names or those productsfalling within a selected category or sub-categories, e.g.,games—action, cards, strategy and business—accounting, payroll, humanresources.

[0029] Proceeding to a step 204, the user selects at least one of thesoftware products 112A-112L. Next, at a decision step 208, the servicesoftware 120 determines the type of acquisition the user has requestedfor the selected software product, i.e., evaluation or purchase. If theuser has requested to purchase the software product, the processproceeds to a step 212. In one embodiment of the invention, the servicesoftware 120 downloads an unrestricted-access version of the softwareproduct to the client computer 104A. Of course, in some embodiments,once the user downloads the software product, the user may enjoy allownership rights over the software product, limited only by copyrightand/or implicit or explicit licensing terms.

[0030] Continuing to a step 216, as part of the purchase process of thesoftware product, the user is presented an opportunity to purchase asoftware subscription. In one embodiment, for the software subscriptionthe user pays predetermined amounts during selected billing periods in asubscription period. In return, the user downloads at no additionalcharge one of the software products 112A-112L during each of selectedcredit periods. After download, the user has unrestricted access to thesoftware downloaded products. If the user does not use a credit beforethe expiration of a selected credit period, the credit expires.Alternatively, the user may be offered a free trial subscription uponpurchase of a software product. For example, the user may receive freeof charge a membership consisting of one or more billing cycles. FIG. 3below explains the process for purchasing software over the network 108when the user has a membership subscription.

[0031] As part of the purchase of a software product 112A-112L and thesoftware subscription, the user provides billing information to theservice software 120. The service software 120 transmits the billinginformation to the server computer 100 and it is stored in thesubscription database 116. Furthermore, as part of the purchase, theserver computer 100 updates the subscription database 116 to reflectthat the user has purchased the selected product. In one embodiment, theserver computer 100 automatically sends upgrades to the purchasedsoftware as they become available. Furthermore, if the user upgrades toa new computer, the server computer 100 allows a user to re-download viathe network 100 any previously purchased software products.

[0032] Next, at a step 220, the user is assigned a credit for thepurchase of one of the software products. Furthermore, an expirationperiod is assigned to the credit. Prior to the end of the expirationperiod, the user may purchase one of the software products 112A-112Lusing the assigned credit. If the user does not purchase one of thesoftware products 112A-112L within the expiration period, the creditexpires.

[0033] Referring again to the decision step 208, if the user decides toevaluate one of the software products 112A-112L, the process proceeds toa step 224. In one embodiment, the service software 120 downloads atrial version of the software product to the client computer 104A. Thetrial version of the software product can be configured so that it canonly run for an evaluation period, e.g., a limited number of times orfor a limited duration. Next, at a step 228, the user evaluates thesoftware product during the evaluation period. Continuing to the step212 (discussed above), it is assumed that the user is interested in thesoftware product 112A-112L, and purchases it.

[0034] Referring again now to the step 200, if the user purchases asoftware subscription, the process proceeds to a step 232. At the step232, the user provides billing information to the service software 120.The service software 120 transmits the billing information to the servercomputer 100 via the network 108. The server computer 100 updates thesubscription database 116 to indicate the purchase of the softwareproduct. At this step, the user is assigned a credit for the purchase ofone of the software products. Furthermore, at this step, the user maypurchase one of the products with the assigned credit. The process thenends at the step 222.

[0035] Referring again now to the step 200, if the user selects a freetrial of the subscription service, the process proceeds to a step 236.As part of the free trial, the user is granted for a limited number ofsubscription periods, the ability to download one of the softwareproducts 112A-112L during each of the subscription periods. In oneembodiment, after the expiration of the limited number of subscriptionperiods, the user is automatically billed for the subscription on aperiodic basis. In another embodiment of the invention, after theexpiration of the limited number of subscription periods, the user isasked by the service software 120 whether he is interested inmaintaining the subscription on a fee basis.

[0036]FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for a subscribed user(a “member”) for purchasing products from the system 95 of FIG. 1. Forconvenience of description, FIG. 3 is described with respect to a userof client computer 104A. However, it is to be appreciated that the sameprocesses occur on client computer 104B-104N. Depending on theembodiment, additional steps may be added, others removed, selectedsteps may be merged together, and the ordering of the steps rearranged.

[0037] Starting at a step 300, a member accesses the service software120. Next, at a step 304, the member selects one of the softwareproducts 112A-112L. In one embodiment, the service software 120 hasaccess to a searchable database that allows the member to search forparticular products names or those products falling within a selectedcategory or sub-categories, e.g., games—action, cards, strategy andbusiness—accounting, payroll, human resources.

[0038] Furthermore, at this step, the member is allowed to either (i)purchase the selected software product or (ii) evaluate the selectedsoftware product. If the member selects to purchase the selectedsoftware product, the process proceeds to a step 308, wherein, in oneembodiment of the invention, the service software 120 downloads anunrestricted-access version of the software product to the clientcomputer 104A.

[0039] Still referring to the step 308, the system 95 determines whetherthe member purchased the selected software product with an unexpiredcredit, or alternatively, using a subscription discount. In oneembodiment of the invention, the member can purchase any number ofsoftware products at a predetermined subscription discount. In oneembodiment of the invention, the use of the subscription discount doesnot affect the number of credits that have been assigned to the member.If the member purchases the software product with an unexpired credit,the process proceeds to a step 316, wherein the unexpired credit isdeducted. At the beginning of the next credit period, the user isprovided another credit for the purchase of one the software products112A-112L. The number of credits per credit interval that are assignedto the member is configurable by an administrator of the server computer100. The process proceeds to an end step 324.

[0040] Referring again to the step 308, if the member purchases theselected software product using the subscription discount, the processproceeds to a step 320. At this step, the server computer 100 chargesthe account of member for the purchase of the software products andcredits the member's account the subscription discount. The amount ofthe discount may be based at least in part upon the number of softwareproducts that are purchased. In another embodiment of the invention, theamount of the discount is fixed. The process then proceeds to an endstep 324.

[0041] Referring again to the step 304, if the member requests toevaluate one of the software products 112A-112L, the process proceeds toa step 328, wherein the service software 120 downloads a trial versionof the software product to the client computer 104A. The trial versionof the software product can be configured so that it can only run for anevaluation period, e.g., a limited number of times or for a limitedduration. Next, at a step 332, the member evaluates the software productduring the evaluation period. Continuing to the step 308 (discussedabove), it is assumed that the member is interested in the softwareproduct 1112A-112L and purchases it.

[0042]FIG. 4 shows an exemplary user interface 404 that may be used inconjunction with the systems and methods described above. The userinterface 404 may be provided with, for example, the service software120. The user interface 404 may have a “game guide” 408 that presents tothe user icons 412 so that the user can indicate selection of one ormore software products which the user is interested in evaluating orpurchasing. The user interface 404 may be employed at step 300 of theprocess described with reference to FIG. 3. The user interface 404 mayalso include an area 416 to allow the user to indicate his desire todownload a software product. Of course, user interface 404 is merelyexemplary, and a person of ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that there are multiple, equivalent ways to make accessiblethe functionality of the system 95 to the user.

[0043]FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary user interface 504 that may be used inconjunction with the process of FIG. 3. More specifically, withreference to step 304 of the process shown in FIG. 3, a user accessesuser interface 504 to download software products which the user maydesire to evaluate or purchase. An area 508 of the user interface 504may provide a menu indicating different categories of games that theuser may browse. Additionally, the user interface 504 may have an icon512 so that the user can indicate his wish to download a demonstrationversion of the game. Of course, the system 95 is preferably configuredto provide the functionality to transmit the selected software productfrom the server 100, via the network 108, to the client computer104A-104N. The user interface 504 may also have an icon 516 for the userto instruct the system 95 that he wants to purchase the selectedsoftware product.

[0044]FIG. 6 shows an example of a user interface 604 that may also beused in conjunction with the process of FIG. 3. The user interface 604may be used, for example, in connection with steps 304, 316, and 320 ofthe process described with reference to FIG. 3. The user interface 604may have an input button 608 so that the user can indicate that hewishes to apply a discount (see step 320) to his purchase of thesoftware product. The user interface 604 may also provide an inputbutton 612 for the user to indicate that he would like to apply a creditto the purchase. In this embodiment, the user interface 604 presents tothe user information regarding the transaction. For example, at area608′ the users selection of applying a discount to the product purchaseis shown. In some embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 6, the userinterface 604 provides an input button 616 so that the user is able toindicate that he is ready to complete the purchasing transaction anddownload the software product. Furthermore, in embodiments, where theuser is a member to the subscription program, the user's billinginformation may be displayed in an area 620 as shown. As discussedabove, the billing information may be obtained at some point during theprocesses of shown in FIG. 2 or 3.

[0045] It should be understood that user interfaces 404, 504, and 604are merely exemplary and in no way limit the inventive systems andmethods described above and recited in the claims below. The userinterfaces 404, 504, and 604 exemplify some of the ways in which thesystem 95 presents its functionality to a user.

[0046]FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process 700 for managing asoftware purchasing subscription in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention. The process 700 starts at a step 702 after configurationof the system 95 (see FIG. 1). The process 700 proceeds to a step 704where the system 95 activates a user's membership account (“account”)for the software purchase subscription. In one embodiment, activation ofthe account involves the server computer 100 acquiring a user's billinginformation (e.g., credit card information), client computer 104Aconfiguration (e.g., type of communications port), etc. The process 700next proceeds to a step 706 where the server computer 100 starts a newbilling cycle for the account. The server computer 100 may indicate thestart of a new billing cycle by updating a field of the subscriptiondatabase 116, or by updating a remote database (not shown) that is incommunication with the server computer 100, for example.

[0047] Next, at a step 708 of the process 700, the server computer 100issues a new purchase credit to the account. This task involves theserver computer 100 updating a field in the subscription database 116,for example. The purchase credit allows the user to acquire a softwareproduct 112A-112L at no additional charge, or at a discounted price,etc. Of course, depending on the embodiment, the server computer 100 mayissue multiple purchase credits after the start of a new billing cycle.For example, if a user pays $20 per billing period of the subscription,the server computer 100 may issue one purchase credit. However, if auser pays $30 per billing period, the server computer 100 may issuethree purchase credits per billing period.

[0048] The process 700 next proceeds to a decision step 710 where theserver computer 100 receives input from the account's user, i.e., the“member”, regarding the method of purchasing a software product112A-112L. The server computer 100 determines whether or not the memberindicates purchase of a software product 112A-112L with a purchasecredit. If the server computer 100 determines that the member indicatesa purchase of a software product 112A-112L using a purchase credit, theprocess 700 proceeds to a step 712 where the server computer 100 deductsfrom the account the purchase credit having a time stamp indicating thatthe purchase credit is the closest to expiration. If however, at thedecision step 710 the server computer 100 determines that the memberindicates that the purchase of a software product 112A-112L does not usea purchase credit, the process 700 moves to a decision step 714.

[0049] At the decision step 714, the server computer 100 queries whetherany of the of credits in the account have expired. As previouslyexplained with reference to the process shown in FIG. 3, in oneembodiment a credit expires if it is not used within a predeterminedperiod of time, for example. Of course, expiration of credits may bebased on other criteria, e.g., a credit may expire if the number ofcredits in the account exceeds a predetermined number. If the servercomputer 100 determines that there is an expired credit in the account,the process 700 proceeds to a step 716 where the server computer 100deducts the expired credit from the account. The server computer 100 maydeduct the expired credit by, for example, modifying a data record inthe subscription database 116. If, on the other hand, the servercomputer 100 determines at the decision step 714 that there is noexpired purchase credit in the account, the process 700 continues to adecision step 718.

[0050] The server computer 100 determines at the decision step 718whether the current billing cycle is over. As discussed above withreference to the process illustrated in FIG. 3, in one embodiment of theinvention a member pays a predetermined amount during selected billingperiods, which billing periods may or may not coincide with creditperiods in which the account is provided with additional purchasecredits or debited because of expired purchase credits. In theembodiment of FIG. 7, the billing cycle coincides with the creditperiod. That is, for each billing period there is one credit period. Ifthe server computer 100 determines that the current cycle is not over,the process 700 returns to the decision step 710 and continues asdiscussed above.

[0051] If the server computer 100 determines at the decision step 718that the current cycle is over, the process 700 moves to a step 720where the server computer 100 queries whether the membership is in goodstanding. Of course, there are many criteria that may be employed tocharacterize a membership as being in good standing or not. For example,if a member has not made the required periodic payment for thesubscription, the membership may be deemed to not be in good standing.By way of another example, if a user cancels the membership the accountmay remain valid for one or more credit periods; however, at the end ofthe remaining credit periods the membership would be deemed to not be ingood standing. If the server computer 100 determines that the membershipis not in good standing, the process 700 returns to the step 710 andcontinues as previously described. In one embodiment the process 700continues to loop between steps 710 and 718 as long as the membership isnot in good standing. However, in other embodiments, the process 700 mayterminate upon a determination that the membership is not in goodstanding.

[0052] If the computer server 100 determines at decision step 720 thatthe membership is in good standing, the process 700 returns to the step706 and starts a new billing cycle. In one embodiment, as long as themembership remains in good standing, the process 700 loops from step 706to step 720 indefinitely. Hence, a member's subscription period mayinclude multiple billing cycles in which purchase credits are issued,used to purchase software products, and/or deducted from the account asexpired because not used within a credit period. Of course, depending onthe specific embodiment, the process 700 may include additional or fewersteps, selected steps may be merged together, and the ordering of thesteps rearranged.

[0053] It should be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in therelevant technology that the system 95 of FIG. 1, in cooperation withany of the processes discussed above, provides a way for distributors ofsoftware products to reduce distribution costs and to create recurringrevenue streams. Furthermore, in some embodiments the system 95 isbeneficial to users since they acquire personal ownership of thesoftware products, providing the users with unrestricted access to thepurchased products.

[0054] While the above detailed description has shown, described, andpointed out novel features of the invention as applied to variousembodiments, it will be understood that various omissions,substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device orprocess illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the inventionis indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of selling software games, the method comprising: selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals in a subscription period; allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during a credit interval, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of credit intervals; receiving a purchase request for one of the software games during a credit interval; and debiting the allocated credit.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of the credit interval is a month.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising forwarding the software game to a client computer over a communications network.
 4. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising: receiving a purchase request for a second one of the software games; and selling the second software game for a predetermined discount.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the software game to a client computer via the network.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the length of the billing interval is the same as the length of the credit interval.
 7. A method of selling software games, the method comprising: selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount during a plurality of billing intervals in a subscription period; allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during a plurality of credit intervals in the subscription period; and debiting the credit for the purchase of one of the software games if the user has not purchased any of the software games before the expiration of at least one of the credit intervals.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the duration of the credit intervals is a month.
 9. The method of claim 5, further comprising forwarding the software game to a client computer via a communications network.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the software games to a client computer via the network.
 11. A client computer, comprising: a memory; and a module, residing in the memory, the module configured for purchasing a subscription via a network from a server, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals, the subscription allocating an expirable credit for the purchase of a computer executable game code during a credit interval, the module transmitting a purchase request to a server computer for purchase of the computer executable code during the credit interval, and the module receiving the computer executable code from the server computer.
 12. The client computer of claim 11, wherein the client computer includes a communications card for transmitting the purchase request via the network.
 13. The client computer of claim 11, wherein the communications card is a dial-up modem.
 14. A server computer, comprising: a memory; and a module, residing in the memory, the module configured for selling a subscription via a network, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period, the subscription allocating an expirable credit for the purchase of a software game during each of the intervals, the module receiving a purchase request from a client computer for purchase of at least one of the software games during at least one of the selected intervals, and the module transmitting the software game to the client computer.
 15. The server computer of claim 14, wherein the client computer includes a communications card for transmitting the purchase request via the network.
 16. The server computer of claim 14, wherein the communications card is a dial-up modem.
 17. A program storage device storing instructions that when executed performs the method comprising: selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at a plurality of billing intervals in a subscription period; allocating at least one credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during a credit interval; receiving a purchase request for a selected one of the software games; and debiting an allocated credit corresponding to the purchase request.
 18. The program storage device of claim 17, wherein allocating at least one credit comprises determining the number of credits to be allocated based at least in part on the predetermined amounts the user pays.
 19. The program storage device of claim 17, further comprising instructions for forwarding the software game to a computing device via a communications network.
 20. The program storage device of claim 17, additionally comprising instructions for transmitting the selected software game to a client computer via a communications card.
 21. The program storage device, of claim 17, wherein the credit is expirable.
 22. A program storage device storing instructions that when executed performs the method comprising: purchasing a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at a plurality of billing intervals in a subscription period, the subscription providing a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during each of the intervals; and purchasing one of the software games using the credit.
 23. The program storage device, of claim 22, wherein the credit is expirable.
 24. The program storage device of claim 22, wherein the duration of the billing interval is one month.
 25. The program storage device of claim 24, further comprising instructions for forwarding the purchased software game to a client computer via a communications network.
 26. A method comprising: purchasing a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period, the subscription providing one or more credits for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during each of the intervals; and purchasing one of the software games using at least one of the credits.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the each of the intervals is a month.
 28. The program storage device of claim 26, further comprising receiving the software game at a client computer via a communications network.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the provided credit expires if it is not used at the end of the interval in which it was provided.
 30. A system for selling software games, the system comprising: means for selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period; means for allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during each of the intervals; means for receiving a purchase request for one of the software games; and means for debiting the allocated credit.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the each of the intervals is a month.
 32. The system of claim 30, further comprising means for forwarding the software game to a client computer via a communications network.
 33. The system of claim 30, additionally comprising: means for receiving a purchase request for a second one of the software games; and means for selling the second software game for a predetermined discount.
 34. The system of claim 30, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the software game to the user via the network.
 35. A system for selling software games, the system comprising: means for selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period; means for allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during each of the intervals; and means for debiting the credit for the purchase of a selected one of the software games if the user has not purchased any of the software games before the expiration of the interval.
 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the each of the intervals is a month.
 37. The system of claim 35, further comprising means for forwarding a purchased software game to a client computer via a communications network.
 38. The system of claim 35, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the software game to the user via the network.
 39. A server computer configured for distributing, over a computer network, software games on a subscription basis, the server computer comprising: a module, residing in a memory of the computer server, the module configured for: selling a subscription via a computer network; wherein the subscription requires a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period; and wherein the subscription allocates, during each of the intervals, an expirable credit that the user may use to purchase of a software game; wherein the credit expires if the user does not use the credit to purchase a software game during the credit period; receiving a purchase request from a client computer for purchase of at least one of the software games, wherein the user pays for the software game with an unexpired credit; transmitting the software game to the client computer; and debiting a credit from a credit account of the user.
 40. The server of claim 39, wherein the each of the intervals is a month.
 41. The server of claim 39, wherein the module is transmits the software game to the client computer over a communications network.
 42. A method of selling digital content, the method comprising: selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals in a subscription period; allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of digital content products during a credit interval, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of credit intervals; receiving a purchase request for one of the digital content products during a credit interval; and debiting the allocated credit.
 43. The method of claim 42, additionally comprising: receiving a purchase request for a second one of the digital content products; and selling the second digital content product for a predetermined discount.
 44. The method of claim 42, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the digital content product to a client computer via the network. 